A method is provided for execution by one or more processing modules of a dispersed storage network (DSN). The method begins by the DSN receiving a request to update one or more data segments of a data object and continues with the DSN determining whether one or more encoded data slices (EDSs) of a plurality of EDSs associated with the one or more data segments of the data object are eligible for partial updating. The DSN then executes a partial updating process for the eligible EDS while excluding any EDSs eligible for the partial updating that would be unaffected during the partial updating process.